Now that Summer is coming to a close and the cooler weather is starting to make a comeback, we can say goodbye to our Summertime arch-nemesis pests and say hello to a new group of unwelcomed invaders. When the weather cools off, various pests and rodents start trying to make their way indoors where it is nice and warm. Their main prerogative is food, water, shelter. Making our homes the perfect stomping grounds for them to survive the Winter. You can deter these unwelcome house guests from entering your residence by working in collaboration with your preferred pest control company, so you may seal off any points of entry they may use to gain access to your dwelling. In 2010, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) made its way onto the scene in Kentucky and can now be found in multiple counties in our State. The BMSB becomes a real pest in the Autumn and we see an influx in calls for assistance in removing them from homes. Below A Five Star Termite & Pest Control offer some tips to help you identify the BMSB.
How Do You Identify Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs?
All stink bugs have a distinctive “Shield” shaped body, but the BMSB is the biggest stink bug found in Kentucky today. They measure about ½ – 5/8 inch in adulthood and sport a brownish gray coloring that appears marble like. They have two white bands through their dark antennae, with alternating dark and light banding on their abdomen behind their wings. Their underbellies are a lighter whitish color and may have some dark markings. They have 2 sets of wings that lay flat over their back. They have short, blunt heads.
What Does Stink Bug Damage Look Like?
When BMSB congregate, they do so in great numbers. Where you find one, there will be hundreds to thousands more lurking near. They have an affinity for more than 100 plants including grains, vegetables, fruit crops and ornamental plants. Not only can they devastate crops in a short amount of time, they are a true nuisance for homeowners as well! They seek shelter in the cooler months by entering homes, attics, basements, sheds, garages or anywhere else they can seek warmth, food and water for Winter. When BMSB have found a suitable environment, the male BMSB will emit a foul odor that smells almost like cilantro, in an effort to attract other BMSB to their location. They then aggregate together in homes or other shelters in large-numbers and when they are startled or otherwise disturbed, they will emit that foul odor as a defense mechanism.
Stink Bug Inspections, Exclusion, Control, Removal, Management & More in Canyon Lake, Spring Branch, Bulverde, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Alamo Heights, New Braunfels, Selma, Live Oak, Converse, Universal City, Cibolo, Seguin, New Berlin, St Hedwig, Adkins, La Vernia, Elmendorf, Losoya, Von Ormy, Macdona & San Antonio, Texas
There are various methods we use to control over-wintering pests alike. Each home is unique, and some will need more tactics than others. If you are having issues with pests entering your home this Autumn, you will first need to identify how they are making their way into your home. All entry points will need to be sealed, windows and doors should not be left open without screens and they should be sealed properly as well. If you can see sunlight through the cracks of your door, pests can come right in. Because BMSB invade in such large numbers, we do not recommend getting yourself into a smelly situation and attempting to deal with the issue on your own, professional pest control is going to be the most effective method in removing these problem pests from your home. Give us a call to schedule your home’s next pest control treatment, or if you have further questions about the BMSB.
